Bayer announced on February 17, 2026 that its Monsanto subsidiary is seeking court approval for a proposed $7.25 billion class action settlement intended to resolve the tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. The filing is expected to be submitted to a state court in St. Louis, Missouri.
Get the latest Roundup cancer lawsuit settlement updates and filing information.
Status: Proposed — Awaiting Court Approval
What Is the Roundup Litigation About?
Roundup is one of the most widely used weedkillers in the United States, sold to both homeowners and commercial agricultural operations for decades. The lawsuits allege that long-term exposure to Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other forms of cancer.
Bayer inherited the Roundup litigation when it purchased agrochemical giant Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018. Since then, the company has faced an avalanche of lawsuits from individuals who say they developed cancer after using the product at home or on the job. Approximately 65,000 plaintiffs currently have claims pending in state and federal courts across the country.
Bayer has consistently maintained that decades of scientific research support the safety of Roundup and glyphosate for human use.
What Does the Proposed Settlement Include?
The proposed $7.25 billion nationwide settlement would create a long-term claims program funded by capped annual payments over a period of up to 21 years. Key features include:
- Coverage of the majority of current Roundup cancer lawsuits pending across the country
- A provision allowing people who were exposed to Roundup before February 17, 2026 and who can prove a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma to file claims for up to 21 years
- A structure designed to resolve future lawsuits in addition to existing ones, preventing new litigation from continuing indefinitely
Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said the company is confident the settlement will resolve the vast majority of claims, though he did not disclose how many plaintiffs currently support the deal. The company also disclosed that it has reached separate confidential settlements with certain law firms representing additional Roundup plaintiffs, but did not identify the firms or amounts involved.
How Did We Get Here?
This is not Bayer’s first attempt to put the Roundup litigation behind it. The company previously paid approximately $10 billion around 2020 to settle the bulk of lawsuits that were pending at that time. However, an earlier effort to establish a settlement covering future claims fell apart, and new lawsuits continued to pour in.
Bayer has had mixed results in cases that went to trial. While the company won several Roundup trials, it has also been hit with massive jury verdicts in recent years. A jury in Georgia awarded $2.1 billion to a plaintiff in March 2025, among other significant adverse verdicts. These outcomes damaged investor confidence and intensified pressure on Bayer to find a comprehensive resolution.
The Supreme Court Factor
Adding another layer to the situation, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal in a separate Roundup case that Bayer argues could significantly limit its legal exposure. Oral arguments are scheduled for late April 2026.
If the Supreme Court rules in Bayer’s favor, it could overturn several large jury verdicts that are currently on appeal and create legal barriers for future claims by individuals who opt out of the proposed class settlement. Bayer has described the Supreme Court case as essential to fully resolving the Roundup litigation.
Financial Impact on Bayer
The proposed settlement will significantly affect Bayer’s finances. The company said it expects its litigation provisions and liabilities to increase from 7.8 billion euros to 11.8 billion euros (approximately $9.2 billion to $14 billion). Bayer anticipates roughly 5 billion euros in litigation-related payments during 2026 and now expects negative free cash flow for the year.
The company has postponed the release of its 2025 annual results and 2026 financial guidance until March 4, 2026 to account for the settlement agreements. Despite the financial hit, Bayer’s stock rose as much as 7.7 percent following the announcement, reaching its highest level since September 2023 — a sign that investors view the proposed settlement as a path toward ending the uncertainty that has weighed on the company for years.
What Does This Mean for People Who Used Roundup?
If the court approves the proposed settlement, it would establish a structured claims process for current and future Roundup cancer claimants. However, several important details remain unclear at this stage:
- No claim form is available yet. The settlement must first receive judicial approval before any claims process is established
- Individual payout amounts have not been disclosed. With 65,000 current plaintiffs and provisions for future claims over 21 years, the per-person amount will depend on the total number of valid claims
- Opt-out rights will likely be available. As a proposed Rule 23(b)(3) class action, class members would typically have the right to exclude themselves and pursue individual lawsuits — though a favorable Supreme Court ruling could affect those individual claims
If you or a family member used Roundup and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another form of cancer, you may want to consult with an attorney to understand how this proposed settlement could affect your options.
What Happens Next?
The proposed settlement must be reviewed and approved by the court in St. Louis. Key upcoming milestones include:
- Court review of the proposed settlement — the judge will decide whether to grant preliminary approval and authorize notice to class members
- Supreme Court oral arguments — scheduled for late April 2026 in a separate Roundup case that could reshape the legal landscape
- Bayer’s updated financial results — rescheduled to March 4, 2026
We will update this page as the case progresses.
Case Details
| Defendant | Bayer AG / Monsanto Company |
| Product | Roundup weedkiller (glyphosate) |
| Proposed Settlement | Up to $7.25 billion |
| Current Plaintiffs | Approximately 65,000 |
| Court | State court, St. Louis, Missouri |
| Prior Settlements | ~$10 billion (2020) |
| Status | Proposed — awaiting court approval |
By Steve Levine | Published: February 17, 2026
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you have a Roundup-related cancer claim, consult with a qualified attorney to understand your options. OpenClassActions.org is a consumer news site and is not a law firm.